How to Install WordPress

How to Install WordPress and Start Blogging – Step-By-Step Guide

by Marko Saric

WordPress is free, open-source blogging software that you use with your own domain name to run a blog.

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform – it powers more than 50 million blogs. All of my projects are run on it.

Install WordPress and start blogging

WordPress must be installed on a web hosting server. For the simplest possible install, I recommend using Bluehost as you simply click on a button to install WordPress and get domain and hosting at a very cheap price.

It literally takes 5 minutes to have your blog up and running, no tech knowledge needed. Watch my video for step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress blog and click here to get started.

Even WordPress recommends Bluehost for blog hosting. Bluehost offers one-click WordPress installation, unlimited hosting space, free domain name and a 99% uptime guarantee.

The above is the easy and recommended way of installing WordPress and having a blog ready in 5 minutes. If you prefer to install your blog manually, please follow the process below:

The manual WordPress install

Get domain name and hosting

• First step to is to get a domain name and hosting.
• Bluehost offers free domain as long as you buy hosting.

Setup your hosting account

• Login to your hosting account
• Click on Hosting and chose My Hosting Account
• Find your hosting plan and click on Setup Account
• Select the checkbox and click Next
• Chose username and password and click Next
• Chose Select a domain from this account, find the domain and click Submit

Get your FTP Account Information

• You will get an email titled “Hosting Account Setup”
• Find your “FTP Account Information” in the email

Hosting/FTP User Name: your username
Web Site URL: your domain URL
FTP Site URL: your FTP URL
Your Web Site Visitor Statistics: Your stats URL

Create MySQL database

• Click on Hosting and chose My Hosting Account
• Find your domain name and click on Manage Account
• Click on Databases, chose MySQL and click Create Database
• Write description, chose username and password
• Click OK and wait until your MySQL is setup

Click on the pencil to “Edit/view details” and save the following:

MySQL Database Information Status:
Setup Host Name: your host name
Database Name: database name you have chosen
Database Version: 4.1
Description: description you have chosen
User Name: username you have chosen

Installing WordPress files

• To install WordPress, go to WordPress.org and download the latest version
• WordPress 3.3 comes in a .zip file so unzip it
• In WordPress folder rename wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php

Open wp-config.php in text editor and find this part:

// ** MySQL settings – You can get this info from your web host ** //
/** The name of the database */
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘putyourdbnamehere‘);
/** MySQL database username */
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘usernamehere‘);
/** MySQL database password */
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘yourpasswordhere‘);
/** MySQL hostname */
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost‘);

Take MySQL Database info and insert in places marked in bold:

• Your MySQL Database Name should replace putyourdbnamehere
• Your MySQL User Name should replace usernamehere
• Your MySQL password should replace yourpasswordhere
• Your MySQL Host Name should replace localhost

Now find following in your wp-config.php:

define(‘AUTH_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’); define(‘SECURE_AUTH_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’); define(‘LOGGED_IN_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’); define(‘NONCE_KEY’, ‘put your unique phrase here’);

Visit secret key, copy the details, insert them and save wp-config.php
Login to your web hosting

• Open FTP client and log in to your hosting using the FTP account logins
• Place all the files from your WordPress folder onto your server
• Go to http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php

This is what you will see when you enter the address:

• Fill in your Blog Title and Your E-mail
• Click on Install WordPress
• Next screen says Success! and has your Username and Password.
• Click on Log In to log in to WordPress dashboard.

Your blog is now setup and is live online. You will get an email titled New Blog which includes your URL and your username / password. That’s it, it’s that simple to install WordPress. Get your blog started now and enjoy!